Grouser for tractor wheels



Nov. 3, 1931. T. G. SCHMEISER 1,329,945

GROUSER FOR TRACTOR WHEELS Filed OCT. 21, 1929- :[Eig 4L 0 INVENTOR.

Eaakia 6. Jayne/Jae. Y

Patented Nov. 3, 1931 THEODORE G. sc'rimnisnn, 0F FRESNO, CALIFORNIA eRoUsER roa'rlmc'ron WHEELS Application filed October 21, 1929. Serial Nb.401,1s4.

The present invention relates to improve ments in grousers for tractor wheels, and its principal object is to provide a self-cleaning grouser that automatically discharges dirt over the outer edge. thereof. 7

At the present time it is customary to fasten two sets of grousers to a tractor wheel, one

set close to the outer edge, and one set close to the inner edge with an intervening space between the two sets left clear so that a scrap er may operate on the intervening space for scraping ofi dirt or mud that may accumulate on the wheels. This arrangement, however, is not quite satisfactory under all conditions since the mere cleaning of the intervening space between the two sets of grousers doesnot take care of mud or dirt than accumulates between the individual grousers of each set, and in order to clean the wheels of this mud or dirt it is frequently necessary for the driver to stop and to clean the spaces between the individual grousers by means of a bar or any suitable tool, which consumes much time.

In the present invention, it is proposed to form each individual grouser in such. a man ner that it will have a tendency to discharge the mud or dirt over its outer edge and to g prises a bottom member 2 slightly curved to prevent any accumulations of mud or dirt between the individual grousers. The standard grouser used at the present time presents a slanting face usually straight or slightly curved but of such shape that the mud or dirt is driven from the point of the grouser toward the base thereof, and accumulates at the base with the result that the mud or dirt sticks to the wheel surface and fills the space between the grousers thereby rendering the latter practically inoperative.

In the present invention it is proposed to make the face of the grouser shaped so that mud or dirt passing along the face is not driven toward the base of the grouser, but is discharged laterally which keeps the grouser clean at all times.

It is further proposed in the present invention to provide a grouser which has on oppo-' site sldes faces presenting a mold board effeet so that the grouser maybe easily reversed and used on either side of the wheel.

It is further proposed in the present invent1on to provide a fastening means or a grouser of the character described which does not in any way obstruct the active face of the grouser and thus does not in any way'encourage the accumulation of mud or dirt on the grouser face.

. Further objects and advantages of my 111- vention will appear as the specification proceeds.

V l The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which I 'Figure 1 shows a planview of my grouser;

Figure 2 a side view thereof as applied to a tractor wheel; Figure 3 an end view of the grouser F gure 4 an end view of the grouser looking at the same from theopposite end; and

Figure 5 a fragmentary view of a tractor 7 wheel having my grouser attached thereto.

While I- haveshown only the preferred form of the invention, I wish to have it understood that ;various changes or modifications may be. made within the scope of the claim hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

, In its preferred form my grouser 1 com conform to the outline of the tractor wheel 3, a front wall 4 and a rear wall 5, and side walls 6 and 7.. The front and rear walls 4 and 5 rise from the bottom 2 at an angle to form in general outline a tooth or wedge. Each of these two walls is curved to present a mold board effect, its inner edge 8 being the leading edge, and itsouter edge 9 being the trailing edge so that dirt or mud moving along either of the faces from the point of the grouser to the base is imparted a sidewise motion and is discharged over the trailing edge 9. As will be seen from Figure 2 the grouser is preferably formed in such a manner that the side walls 6 and 7, slightlyconverge and the ridge 10 of the grouser is slightly inclined so as to engage with the soil at the leading edge, slightly in advance of the trailing edge. The side 6 of the grouser, owing to its construction, is considerably smaller than the side Tend isforined with a projection 11 adapted to lie against one face of the wheel.

The grouser is made hollow and the inner face 7 of the grouser is formed with a large aperture 12 giving access to the interior of the grouser and more particularly to the fastening means, including a bolt 13 adapted to be passed through a hole 1% in the bottom of the grouser, and a registering hole 15 in the tractor wheel, and anut 16 is adapted to be threaded on the bolt. The bolt head may be held against turning motion by means of lugs 17 rising from the bottom of the grouser so that the nut 16 may be easily applied without the necessity of holding the bolt head by means of a wrench or the like. The perforation let in the bottom of the grouser is preferably made s 'ghtly elongated to facilitate the fitting of the grouser.

It will be noted that this grouser may be used either as a left hand or as a right hand grouser, in one position the face i being the working or active face, and in the other position the face 5 being the active face. This not only allows each grouser to be used in either position but also allows the grouser to be reversed from one position to the other so that as one face is worn. the grouser may be changed over the opposite side for using up the other face.

In Figure 5 is shown the general arrangement of the grousers on a wheel, and it will be seen that the grousers are preferably arranged in staggered relation.

The wall or working face 4 is curved from the meeting edge 8 to the trailing edge 9 and presents a mold board effect. The rear wall 5 is similarly shaped. The side walls or end faces 6 are located adjacent the inboard and outboard edges of the rim, while the sides or end faces 7 are located adjacent the center of the rim. In other words, the apex of the substantially triangularly shaped base of each grouser is located adjacent a periphery of the rim.

The manner in which my grouser operates should be readily understood from the foregoing description. As the gronser penetrates into the soil and accumulates dirt or mud, which in the conventional grouser is driven toward the base of the same, my grouser guides the dirt or mud along the working faces toward the trailing edge and causes it to be discharged thereover so that the grouser is practically self-cleaning and allows no dirt or mud to accumulate at the base. Since the trailing edge slightly pro jects beyond the wheel, any dirt or mud discharged from' the trailing edge is made to clear the wheel and is prevented from accumulating thereon. The working faces of the grouser are entirely unobstructed due to the fastening means being associated with the bottom and being made accessible through the inner side wall of the grouser.

The lower face of the bottom member 2 may be formed with teeth as shown at 18 to insure the grouser against lateral slipping.

I claim:

In a tractor wheel including a rim, said rim having inboard and outboard edges, circumferential series of spaced grousers secured to the rim adjacent the inboard and outboard edges of the rim, each grouser being wedge-shaped and having a substantially triangular base secured to the rim, the apex effect so that dirt will be forced continuously away outwardly from the inboard and outboard edges of the rim.

THEODORE G. SGHMEISER. 

